VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
FOIAsearch vs Smartkarma
Pick FOIAsearch instead if
FOIAsearch
Free • Paid plans available · Web
- You want regulatory filings monitoring and flags.
Start here
Smartkarma
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want stock ideas, screeners, and news.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
FOIAsearch and Smartkarma cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, alerts and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Smartkarma simply does more: 10 categories to FOIAsearch's 4, including stock ideas, screeners, and news, plus a mobile app. FOIAsearch counters by being completely free.
What readers say
FOIAsearch
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Smartkarma
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- Smartkarma
- Broader coverage
- Smartkarma10 vs 4 categories
- Global coverage
- Smartkarma
- Asset coverage
- SmartkarmaAdds ETFs and bonds
- Free plan
- Both
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Paid plans available | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Bloomberg Terminal |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 4 | 10 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Corporate actions: Current |
Capabilities | — | Universe builder and Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and Growth |
| Try it | Visit FOIAsearch | Visit Smartkarma |
Where each one shines
What FOIAsearch and Smartkarma each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What FOIAsearch and Smartkarma each do best.What FOIAsearch does best
- Search SEC FOIA request logs by company or organization.
- Review separate lists for all requests and B7A-exempt requests.
- Use Protect My Portfolio for alerts about saved portfolio companies.
- Use IR Watch for alerts when hedge funds, research firms or reporters request information about an issuer.
- Receive a monthly roundup of SEC FOIA requests from selected reporters.
What Smartkarma does best
- Reading access to independent investment research and analyst commentary from the Smartkarma platform across equities, macro, FX, rates, crypto, and related markets.
- Direct analyst access, real-time alerts, email notifications, and watchlists to follow relevant research as it is published.
- Screening for ideas with SmartScore factors such as Value, Dividend, Growth, Resilience, and Momentum, with filters by country, sector, and market cap.
- The Relative Value tool for HoldCo and share-class pair opportunities, including Actionability, Investability, and z-score diagnostics.
- Monitor FX, rates, macroeconomic calendars, crypto dashboards, market updates, videos, blogs, and newsletters from the broader platform.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FOIAsearch and Smartkarma, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FOIAsearch and Smartkarma, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsBondsCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | Bloomberg Terminal |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and Growth |
Vendor & support | Dorsey Research LLCSupport: Email | Smartkarma Innovations Pte LtdCountry: Singapore |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Free Search” | Free“Preview Pass” |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Portfolio Alerts” | Subscription“Pro Platform” |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“IR Watch” | Subscription“Premium & Data Subscriptions” |
| Tier 3 | Subscription“Prominent Reporter Alerts” | Subscription“Digital IR Platform (Corporate)” |
| Top plan | — | Subscription“Plus Platform (Wealth/Intermediaries)” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FOIAsearch and Smartkarma?
FOIAsearch leans toward alerts, regulatory filings monitoring, and watchlist, while Smartkarma puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and watchlist. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do FOIAsearch and Smartkarma cost?
Good news: both FOIAsearch and Smartkarma have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use FOIAsearch or Smartkarma on my phone?
Smartkarma lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. FOIAsearch doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose FOIAsearch or Smartkarma?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FOIAsearch if regulatory filings monitoring and flags matter to you; go with Smartkarma if you'd rather have stock ideas and screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FOIAsearch and Smartkarma cover?
Both cover stocks. Smartkarma adds ETFs, bonds, and currencies on top.
Which covers international markets: FOIAsearch or Smartkarma?
Smartkarma has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. FOIAsearch is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Which has a better stock screener: FOIAsearch or Smartkarma?
Smartkarma has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; FOIAsearch doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Keep researching
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.